Intel's 10-Core Processors: Aimed At Growing High-End Servers

Intel's introduction of the Xeon E7 family of processors for higher-end servers underscores just how powerful today's x86-based systems can be and how the "PC architecture" is now extending more and more into applictions that used to be primarily the province of more specialized systems.

Intel's introduction of the Xeon E7 family of processors for higher-end servers underscores just how powerful today's x86-based systems can be and how the "PC architecture" is now extending more and more into applications that used to be primarily the province of more specialized systems.

The Xeon E7 family, known under the Westmere-EX code name, consists of 18 different chips. This includes a top end chip, which runs at up to 2.4GHz with 10 cores (and 20 threads using Intel's hyper-threading), support for "turbo mode;" and 30 megabytes of internal cache, running at 130 watts. It also supports up to 2 terabytes of DDR3 memory in a four-socket system.

Other versions include 6- and 8-core variants, as well as versions with smaller amounts of cache, lower clock speeds, or without hyperthreading. These aren't inexpensive--the list price ranges from $774 to $4,616 in quantity 1,000, so you know the systems will cost more than standard servers. But it's still much less than most proprietary architectures, which is why Intel has gained so much share in servers in recent years.

The new E7 chips are designed to replace the current Nehalem-EX server chips sold under the Xeon 7500 moniker and are based on the same 32nm technology as the Intel Core processors for desktops and notebooks (known as Westmere and Sandy Bridge.) Like the Sandy Bridge chips, the new server chips include Intel's new AES encryption and Trusted Execution Technology (TXT) features. The chip itself contains 2.6 billion transistors on a die size of 513 mm2. Intel says the new lines provide up to 40 percent more performance than the Xeon 7500.

You should see these chips in a large number of dual- and quad-socket designs, a few 8-socket designs, and with special hardware, up to 256-socket behemoths. The three largest U.S. server makers--Dell, HP and IBM--have already announced multiple servers with these chips, and Intel lists nearly every other server maker as supporting it as well, including Cisco, Cray, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Oracle, and Supermicro. Most of the vendors I've talked to are pushing it into corporations as a way of further consolidating virtual servers, and it also makes sense in other "scale-up" applications, where one larger server takes the place of a variety of smaller ones.

Intel also announced 11 new chips in what is now called the E3 family, aimed at single-socket servers. The new chips offer up to six cores and 12 threads at speeds up to 3.5 GHz. Most of the new line in this family require 80 or 95 watts, but two new models include a 2.4 GHz 4-core version that uses 45 watts and a 2.2GHz dual-core one that uses just 20 watts. These are really aimed at entry-level servers and mostly will compete with desktop chips used in servers.

As part of this refresh, Intel has changed its naming scheme for server chips entirely. The company is now using E7 for multi-processor chips, E3 for single-processor chips, and reserving E5 for future chips (likely dual-processor, like most of the current "EP" or Xeon 5000 line).

Michael J. Miller's Forward Thinking Blog: forwardthinking.pcmag.com
Michael J. Miller is chief information officer at Ziff Brothers Investments, a private investment firm. From 1991 to 2005, Miller was editor-in-chief of PC Magazine, responsible for the editorial direction, quality and presentation of the world's largest computer publication.
Until late 2006, Miller was the Chief Content Officer for Ziff Davis Media, responsible for overseeing the editorial positions of Ziff Davis's magazines, websites, and events. As Editorial Director for Ziff Davis Publishing since 1997, Miller took an active role in...
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